PE Upper Core

Tuesday, November 15, 2016

Sorry for the lapse in updates the last few weeks! I had sick kiddos and failed to pass the posting baton to the assistant. So Reader's Digest version...

Week 5: We followed along with a great yoga video for kids then played some games while the scholar leadership class set up for the Halloween party.

Week 6: Tina led the kids in some great games, like "Fruit Salad".

Week 7: Last week before the upper core kids switch classes! We started out class talking about ways to stay healthy and fit throughout life. As parents, we can set great examples for our kids. Take the stairs, park at the back of the parking lot, go for a daily walk. We gave each of the kids a chart to help them track their daily activity at home. We finished out the class by letting them vote for their favorite game from the semester. "Octopus" won by a landslide and thankfully it was beautiful outside! So we headed out to the grass and let them run off some energy.

Upper core kids: thank you so much for making this half of the semester so great! I hope that you enjoyed yourselves, too! Excited to meet the new group on Thursday!

Tuesday, October 18, 2016

This was the first week we had to be inside. :( But I think we did a good job making the most of it! We started with animal relay races (gallop like a horse, stomp like an elephant, jump like a frog, walk like a crab, etc). Next we played a game called "Birds of Prey" (not quite sure why it's called that...). In this game, the kids were divided into 2 teams, and they stood in lines facing the other team, holding hands. All the children had their eyes closed except the first one in each line. One kid stood at the head of the lines in the middle and signaled when to start. As soon as they saw the signal, the first kids in line squeezed the hand of the person next to them and that squeeze was passed down the line as quickly as possible. When the last kid in line felt the squeeze, they ran to grab a bandanna off the floor before the other team got it. The kid to get the bandanna first moved up to the head of the line, and the team to cycle all the kids through first won.

I hope everyone is having a great time in class! We only have 3 more weeks before the upper core kids switch to anatomy. Love of Learners, you're going to help me teach the next group of upper core kids, so be ready!

Monday, October 10, 2016

We did some circuit training last week. Teacher Tina and I went back and forth about whether or not to risk the rain. We decided to go for it, and I'm so glad we did! We had somersaults, step aerobics, hopscotch, push ups, jump rope, resistance bands, and hula hooping. The kids really seemed to enjoy it, and it definitely got everyone moving!

The rain held out until we came around to the last circuit, so we headed inside to play "Buzzing Bees for the last 10 minutes. We sent one kid out into the hall, while another one hid a nickel in their hand. The kids all moved around the room making buzzing sounds while the kiddo from the hall tried to figure out who had the nickel. The kids buzzed louder when s/he got closer.

Thank you so much for making sure the kids have had good shoes and jackets! The weather is not looking good for Thursday so we will likely be inside this week. See you soon!

Friday, September 30, 2016

Hurrah for another beautifully sunny day! We warmed up, then tested our flexibility and agility on "Six Lines". We drew 6 lines on the sidewalk with about a foot between each of them. Then we jumped forward and backward, hopped on one foot, and bear-walked from line to line. We put our left foot on the first line and tested how far we could streeeeeeettttccccchhhhh our right foot forward. We stood on the first line and tested how far we could JUMP forward. They had a great time with a little friendly competition.

Next, we tried to play "Ants on a Log", lining up on the curb and trying to move one student from one end of the line to the other without knocking each other off. This turned out to be harder than any of us thought it would be! Huge shout out to Sadie and Sydney who were the only two who successfully switched places without any help! :)

With our last 10 minutes, we played a keep-it-from-touching-the-ground ball game (difficult with a beach ball and a breeze!) and "Octopus" again (back by popular demand).

Thank you, parents, for helping to make sure everyone had appropriate footwear! See you next week!

Wednesday, September 28, 2016

What an awesome first week! I am so excited to be teaching PE this semester. We will be starting off each class with "The Warm-Up Wheel". Last week, after we were all limber, we played a game called "Switch Sides If..." to get to know each other better. The kids stood on two lines facing each other, and I called out things like "switch sides if you have a dog" or "switch sides if you like chocolate ice cream better than vanilla." If it applied to them, they would race to the other side. Next, we played a game called "Octopus" where one child was the Octopus, and s/he would try to tag other kids as they ran from one end of the play area to the other. Anyone s/he tags became seaweed, and while planted on the spot, the seaweed reached out and tried to tag kids as well. They had a blast with this game! With all that running around though, you can see how wearing flip flops would be a problem. Please make sure your kids wear good shoes every week and bring a jacket if it's chilly outside. Unless it's raining or terribly cold, I would like to have them outside getting some fresh air. Thanks for reading! It's going to be a fun semester!

Wednesday, March 9, 2016

The weather cooperated with us today and we were able to play outside. Typically, we begin our class with some light stretching, and then some cardio work. When we have the opportunity for sunshine, we end the class with free play. The kids love it!

This week does not look so promising - so instead we will be doing yoga inside. This means some tumbling, bending and of course stretching. Please be sure your student is dressed appropriately for this activity. If you have a yoga mat, please bring it. Thank you!
And don't forget...Water Bottles!

Monday, February 22, 2016

Hello again. Wow, we have some great students in this class. This week we did a variation to our usual circuit and had some fun switching activities together. I love watching the kids progress one step at a time. And they are having fun while we are doing it.
This coming week is ball week..... at this time, I'm not sure what I will plan exactly. The creative juices are not moving. We will work on team work, I know. and it will involve balls. :)

Remember, athletic shoes! Water bottles! once the weather turns nice, we do this class outside in the grassy area of the parking lot. There is not an outside water faucet available. Water bottles are important.
Thank you,
Teachers Mary and Kellie